Elevator signal system



Oct. 9, 1928.

M. J. FINNEGAN ELEVATOR SIGNAL SYSTEM Filed July 15, 1927 3a 334: A is C vPatented Oct. 9, 1928.

UNITED STATES r 1,686,606 PATENT OFFICE.

MARTIN J. FINNEGAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ELEVATOR SUPPLIES COM- PANY, INC., 0F HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Application filed July 15,

This invention relates to signaling and registering means for elevators, and has for one of its objects the provision of means for indicating to a supervisor or attendant any shirking of duty on the part of the person or persons operating the elevator or elevators.

Another object is to provide means whereby the supervisor or building manager can be kept informed of the performances of the elevators without devoting his entire attention tothe subject, and in fact without giving any particular thought to the conditions prevailing.

At present it is customary to employ a supervisor or watcher whose entire time is taken up with the task of exercising a vigilance over the conduct of the various elevator operators, to see that the latter keep their cars moving on schedule, and to warn them 'in cases where they are detected loaling or soldiering at some point in the hatchway, such as at one of the upper floors, for example.

This supervisor usually assumes a position within view of the indicating pointers or lights which inform him of the location of the respective elevators. In order to detect an elevator operators failure to keep his car moving promptly from floor to floor he must maintain a steady and constant watch over the operators movements, as indicated by the dials or flashlights within his view.

He mustnote the length of time a particular floor designating character remains dis-- played in order to know whether or not the period of time elapsing is greater than that necessary for the loading and unloading of the elevator. In practice he holds a stop watch on a suspected loitcrer, and while thus engaged other operators may also be loitering unbeknown to the supervisor. In fact,

- so frequently does this occur, in many instances the supervisor is forced to engage one 01' more assistants to help him keep the notoriously lazy elevator operators on the job.

My invention provides a simple, but on tirely satisfactory solution to this vexatious problem, and eliminates the expense hitherto involved in meeting the problem. lVith my novel apparatus which automatically announces the failure of an operator to main tain his cfliciency, the services of watchers and spotters may be dispensed with, be-

1927. Serial No. 205,997.

cause the building manager or other official in charge is informed immediately, and without efl'ort, whenever an elevator has remained idle for an unwarranted length of time.

Specifically a feature of the invention lies in the provision of an annunciator for each elevator adapted to signal the supervisor to inform him of any delinquencv on the part of the operators, together with means for operating such annunciator only upon the lapse of a predetermined time interval, during which the associated elevator fails to pro-- need on its way.

Other objects and features of the invention lie in the specific construction, arrangement, and operation of the parts, and will become apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the electrical parts and connections used with the preferred arrangement.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of a common type of elevator control unit, to which a portion of my novel apparatus is preferably attached.

Figure 31s an end view of the parts shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail elevation view of a cutout switch, forming part of the preferred arrangement.

Figure 5 shows an elevator in position to. operate the cut-out switch shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a view in elevation of the preferred type of delayed action relay and switch, forming part of the system.

Figure 7 shows a modified form of switch operating means, which maybe substituted for the form shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 8 is a larger view of the switch shown in Figure 7.

Referring to the drawings, reference character 1.designates an elevator suspendedin ,hatchway 2 by means of cables 3 connecting with a hoisting motor (not shown). The hoisting motor is usually an electric machine, to which electricity is supplied through suitable connc ctions, the circuit to the motor being controlled by any suitable circuit controlling devics, such as switches 4 and 5, Figure 2; These switches 4 and 5, which are known as reversing switches, are actuated in response to the closing of the proper circuits to cause rotation of the motor armature in either one direction or the other according to the direction in which the elevator is desired to travel. The switches are directly actuated by means of solenoids, the solenoid for actuating switch 4 being shown at 6 in Figure 3. The connections to these switch actuating solenoids are such that when one solenoid is operated the other is de-energized. Operation of either solenoid causes the closing of the upper pair of contacts; that is to say, operation of solenoid 6 causes the closing of contacts 7 and 8 of switch 4 and the operation of the solenoid connected with switch 5 causes the closing of contacts 9 and 10 of switch 5. Both of the sets of contacts just referred to are open while the elevator 1 is at rest, in which position they are held either by the force of gravity or by spring pressure, or by a combination of both. In this normal position, as shown in Figure 3, the lower sets of contacts 11 and 12, 13 and 14, assume the closed position, in which position both sets of contacts will remain until either one or the other of the solenoids controlling the switches 4 and 5 is actuated preparatory to starting of the elevator 1, whereupon the corresponding set of contacts, 11 and 12, or 13 and 14, as the case may be, will be opened;

This construction and arrangement of the reversing switches 4 and 5 is old and wellknown in the art and forms no part of the present invention, and has been described herewith merely for the purpose of introducing one of the novel features of the present invention which is preferably arranged so as to operate coincidently with the opera-' tion of the reversing switches 4 and 5. To illustrate this feature I have shown in Figure 3 a pair of contact devices 15 and 16, the contact 15 being mounted on the motor control panel 17 and the contact 16 on the movable arm of switch 4, substantially opposite the contact 15 so as to be in engagement there-'- with in the non-running position of switch 4, illustrated in Figure 3. A similar pair of contacts is provided in a similar position with respect to the other reversing switch 5, and the two switches just described are pref erably connected in series in an electric circuit in the manner shown diagrammatically in Figure 1, where the two switches are designated b reference characters 16 and 18 respective y. With such an arrangement it is apparent that the energization of either of the solenoids controlling the reversing switches 4 and 5 (which energization is a necessary condition precedent to the starting of the hoisting motor for the elevator 1) will cause opening of the corresponding pair of contacts 11 and 12 or Band 14, as the case may be. It is further apparent that such opening of the contacts 11 and 12 or 13 and 14 will at the same time be accompanied by breaking of the circuit shown in Figure 1, either at the switch 16 or at the switch 18, due to the movement of the associated switch arm gized.

Referring to Figure 1 the circuit from battery 20 is shown provided with an additional switch 21, this switch being normally closed, as shown in Figure 4, by means of spring pressure or some other suitable means. The function and operation of this switch 21 will be described hereinafter.

Also in the circuit from source 20, I prefer to provide electro-magnetic means, such as a relay 22, which preferably takes the form shown in Figure 6. This relay, as shown in F i re 6, is what is known in the art as a elayed-action relay, that is, one in which energization of the relay windings produces a limited movement only of the relay plun er during the lapse of a certain amount 0? time, during which time resistance to the movement of the plunger is offered by some resisting body, such as a viscous liquid, usually oil. After overcoming the resistance offered by this oil or other fluid, the amount of which resistance may be varied'by means of the adjustment shown at 22, the electromagnetic action of the relay 22 causes plunger 23 to move sufliciently far to drive contact finger 24 into engagement with fixed contact 25, thereby closing a circuit passing thereto from the source 26 shown in Figure 1.

In the circuit passing from source 26 thru the contacts 24 and 25, I provide signaling and registering means, such as a bell or buzzer 30 and, preferably, a signal lamp 31, as

shown in Figure 1. This audible signal means 30 and visible signal means 31 are preferably located in proximity to the position usually occupied by the elevator superintendent, but obviously they may be placed in any suitable location; in fact the devices may be duplicatedat another location, such as the oflice of the building manager, asindicatcd in Figure ,1, where a second bell, simultaneously operable, is shown at 32 and a second visible signal is shown at 33. If desired, manually operable cut-out switches 34 and 35 may be provided in either or both of the branch circuits shown in Figure 1.

With such an arrangement it is apparent that upon continued energization of the dclayed action relay 22 over a period of time corresponding to the adjustment predetermined, a circuit from source 26 will be closed thru contacts 24 and 25 thru the action of plunger 23. Assuming switches 34 and 35 to be closed, the engagement of contact 24 with contact 25 will close parallel circuits to the audible signals 30 and 32 and to the visible signals 31 and 33. The operationof period greater than the period necessary to" operate the relay contact 24.

Similarly each of the other elevators, such as elevators A, B and C, assuming'an installation of four elevatorsv for the sake of illustration, is provided with visible signaling and registering means, the lamps 38 to 43 shown in Figure 1 serving to give the same indications with respect to these latter elevators as the lamps 31 and 33 give with respect to elevator 1. If desired, each of the signaling lamps may be provided with an identifying character to indicate'the associated elevator, as suggested in Figure 1, where the reference charactersA, B, C and D indicate the association of these lamps with the corresponding elevators A, B, C and D. Furthermore, if desired, separate bells or other audible signaling means, each having distinctive characteristics of operation, may be provided for each of the elevators, but this is not essential since itis obvious that the signal bell 30, for example, may serve to attract the attention to the operation of any one of the signals 31, 38, 39 or 40.

These visible signals 31, 38, 39 and 40 are not necessarily electric lamps. In fact, it

. may be considered preferable to useelectromagnetic drops, or targets as they are called in the art, which drop into visible position upon closure of the circuit'from source 26 and remain in this registering position until reset by the supervisor or other observer. Further description of these target annunriators, or registers, is believed unnecessary, in View of their common use in the art for many years, and particularlyin view of the clear disclosure of the same in patent to Graham & Schenck No. 1,089,589 granted March 10, 1914, and in patent to Nordofl' No. 1,131,855 granted March 16, 1915.

It should be stated further that connections 45, 46 and 47 are provided leading from the signals 38, 39 and 40 respectively, to the delayed-action relay switches associated with elevators A, B, and C respectively, these latter switches being similar in all respects to switch 24 associated with elevator '1. \Vith the circuit to the relay 22 as shown in l igure 1, it is apparent that this relay 22 will be energized whenever the elevator 1 stops.

If the elevator starts on its way again, however, within a fairly reasonable time, which is less than the-time necessary for plunger 23 to overcome the resistance in its path, the circuit to relay 22 will be broken before theplunger 23 has had an opportunity to close the circuit thru contacts 24 and 25. Consesuch prompt movement of the elevator continues. I

\ It sometimes happens that it is necessary for a particular elevator to remain in a par-- ticular location longer than the ordinary period- In such a case, in order to prevent needless operation of the corresponding tell-tale signal, the switches 34 and 35 or other suitable manually operated switches may be opened. Likewise a switch, such as the switch 21previously referred to, may be placed in the circuit thru source 20 and located in a position in the elevator hatchway where it may be operated by means of a projecting cam device 50 when the elevator is at the terminal landing or some other position in the hatch where it is necessary for the elevator to remain for a longer period than is necessary at the other floors. Vith such an arrangement the elevator 1 upon reaching its terminus will operate switch 21 to cause the latter to move to circuit-open positionyagainst its normal tendency and thru the instrumentality of the cam '50 and the rocker arm 51, as shown in Figures tion to this particular embodiment, and obviv ously changes may be made in the construction of this feature as well as other features.

Figures? and 8 show a modified construction which may be used, if desired, inplace of the construction shown in Figures 2 and 3.

As shown in Figure 7, a circuit making device 53 is controlled thru the links 54 and rocker connection shown to the switch 53 to cause.

closure of the circuit thru the contacts 59 and 60, Figure 8, simultaneously with the stop ping of the car. It is obvious then that this construction may be employed in place of the construction shown in Figures 2 and 3 without changing the method of operation of the system as a whole, inasmuch. as the switch 53 would serve the same purpose as the switches 16 and 18 shown in the preferred embodiment.

In other words either of these two units is operated as an incident to the stopping of the elevator. Obviously still other modifications mi ght-be employed and the invention is not to be considered as limited to the specific construction, arrangement and combination of parts shown. Thus, for example, the circuit to the relay 22 or other slow-acting element, serving an equivalent purpose, might be so arranged as to be closed upon the movement of the elevator operators control lever in some such fashion as illustrated in Figure 5 of the Andren patent above referred to.

In fact any one of the means illustrated in the Andrcn patent, or any other means operable as an incident, or condition precedent or subsequent to the stopping of the elevator, may be utilized in place of the means herein described in detail. This is so obvious to persons versed in the art that to further illustrate these multifarious devices and means would be to unnecessarily lumber the records of the Patent Office and encroach on the time of the Examiner. None of such mechanisms are claimed per se, but only as elements of the novel system disclosed herein.

Similarly other modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, which is to be considered as limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an elevator signal system, a signal, means adapted when set into action for operating said signal after the lapse of a predetermined time period, means for setting said means into action as an incident to the stopping of the elevator, including means for nullifying the action of the first mentioned means if the elevator is started before the expiration of said period.

2. In an elevator signal system, a signal, means adapted when set into action for operating said signal after the lapse of a predetermined time period, means for setting said means into action as an incident to the stopping of the elevator, including means for restoring said operating means to its inactive condition as an incident to the starting of the elevator after the expiration of said period.

3. In an elevator signal system, a signal, means adapted when set into operation for operating said signal after the lapse of a predetermined time period, and comprising an electric circuit to said signal, a switch in said circuit, retarded electro-magnetic means for closing said switch, and means for setting said retarded electromagnetic means into action. as an incident to the stopping of the elevator.

4. In an elevator signal system, a signal, means adapted when set into operation for operating said signal after the lapse of a predetermined time period, and comprising an electric circuit to said signal, a switch in said circuit, a switch operating member movable through a predetermined path to close said switch upon approaching the end of such path of movement, and means for setting said switch operating member in motion along said path of movement as an incident to the stopping of the elevator, including means for nullifying the action of the said switch operating member if the elevator is started before the expiration of said period.

5. In an elevator signal system, a signal, means adapted when set into operation for operating said signal after the lapse of a predetermined time period, and comprising an electric circuit to said signal, a switch in said circuit, a switch operating member movablethrough a predetermined path to close said switch upon approaching the end of such path of movement, and means for setting said switch operating member in motion along said path of movement as an incident to the stopping of the elevator, including means for restoring said switch operating member to its normal inactive position as an incident to the starting of the elevator after the expiration of said period.

6. In an elevator signal system, a signal, means adapted when set into action for operating said signal after the lapse of a predetermined time period, means for setting said means into action as an incident to the stopping of the elevator, including an electromagnetic device, a circuit to said electro-mag netic device, a switch in said circuit, and means for closing said switch operable by the deceleration of the elevator.

7. In an elevator signal system, a signal, means adapted when set into action for operating said signal after the lapse of a predetermined time period, means for setting said means into action as an incident to the stopping of the elevator, including means for nullifying the action of the first mentioned means if the elevator is stopped at a pre-selected terminal station.

Signed at Hoboken, New Jersey, this 14th day of July, 1927.

MARTIN J. FINNEGAN. 

